The fourth-round draft pick had seven carries for 32 yards and added an 11-yard gain on a pass reception on the Bears’ 17-play, 92-yard touchdown drive against the Colts on Saturday night.
The joint practices with the Colts on Wednesday and Thursday meant everything to Bears coach Matt Eberflus. “It’s like playing two preseason games,” he said. “If they let me do it again, I’d do it again next week.”
But to running back Roschon Johnson, the game is when the 6-2, 222-pound rookie from Texas can really show what he can do. Johnson thrives on physicality, and OTAs, mini-camp and even training camp practices don’t quite give him a chance to play to his strength.
“It gets difficult at times, but you have to deal with it,” Johnson said after Wednesday’s practice at the Colts’ training camp facility in Westfield, Ind. “When we strap those pads up on game day, that’s when I can let it all out.”
Johnson got that opportunity Saturday night in the Bears’ preseason game against the Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium and showed glimpses of his potential to be a factor in the regular season.
Johnson entered the game on the Bears’ third possession and along with rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent gave the Bears’ a lift after two punts on the opening possessions with PJ Walker.
